The toughest GROM commandos - who is the elite of special forces? Tomasz "Lasek" Laskowski

Laskowski explains that despite severe foot blisters, hypothermia from not wearing gore‑tex, and fear of chafing or diarrhea from stream water, he never considered quitting. He was more afraid of being removed by instructors than of his own physical limits. He observed that some candidates quit spontaneously after being made pace‑setter, but his mind was fixed: "just to reach each stage to the end." The mental switch is that if the head works in a good direction, even pain becomes acceptable. This mindset carried him through.

In the GROM basic course, after an initial month of living together, teams were formed and tasks performed. Members anonymously submitted "nominations" if someone was slacking, lacking engagement, or unreliable. A warning (yellow card) was issued, and if behavior didn’t improve, removal followed. This internal oversight complemented instructor evaluation and ensured only fully integrated operators stayed.

During the capture phase of basic course, they were hooded, transported to an unknown location, and had to build and maintain a legend as a team. His team’s legend collapsed, and he endured repeated water dousing and electric shocks. Interrogators tried to break him by saying his teammates had already confessed, but he stuck to the legend, never revealing anything true. The key was to keep head down, not give counter‑aggression, and just survive. He later developed a conditioned response even to the sound of a flashlight click, showing deep psychological impact.

Laskowski explains that as "rider" (the first man in), he never had a second thought. When the signal came, he acted automatically. He compares it to being photographed from the side – he just did his job. He describes situations hanging from a rope, waiting on roof edge for the explosive charge to blow the window, and the team enters. There was no moment of "should I do this?", just pure reflex. This level of automaticity came from countless repetitions and trust in the plan.

He admits being addicted to the action and that it’s hard to stop. He constantly seeks situations that give a rush. He rides motorcycles on long solo trips with minimal planning, embracing problems like flat tires as part of the adventure. He runs a shooting school where he stands in front of shooting lines (safely). He also skis aggressively. This serves as a substitute for combat operations, keeping the mind engaged.

He explains that during the combat diver course, a young soldier died after panicking during an emergency ascent drill in an 8‑m‑deep pool with old‑style dry suits and helmets. The trainee inhaled water, developed an embolism, and died the next day after not reporting symptoms. This incident shook the group but reinforced that training is not a game. He states that across his career, many colleagues died in training, not on missions, which shows how serious the preparation is.

He explains that after initial months of living together, they worked in teams and could observe if someone was shirking duties, lacking engagement, or exploiting others. Through a system of anonymous nominations, a candidate would receive a warning ("yellow card"), and if the behavior continued, they’d be eliminated. This system ensured only those who truly integrated and worked hard remained, because in a real operation you need absolute trust. He says it was "ultra interesting" and that instructors alone couldn’t catch such subtle failures.

He describes being a "simple guy from a village" with no swimming experience and a fear of water due to lack of exposure. The ultimatum made him work relentlessly, and he mastered swimming while completing the course. He finished with distinction, proving that the will to succeed can overcome initial deficiencies. This personal story became a foundation of his career mindset.

He elaborates that if a woman were in a team and someone hesitated in a critical moment (like not pulling the trigger), it could lead to death for all. He argues that in such a situation, he would not hesitate to shoot a threatening woman if needed. He uses the analogy of a knifeman scenario: would you shield your wife or step aside? He says nature hasn’t changed in thousands of years; gender roles exist for survival. He applauds the candidate’s motivation but remains conservative.

He details how he obtained a personal protection permit that only allows defending himself, not others nearby, which contradicts the purpose. He says if he saw a mass stabbing, he’d use his gun and later face jail, because protecting innocent life is the priority. He calls society "disarmed" by laws that treat everyone equally, ignoring that some are highly trained. He believes the rules should be changed to recognize proven service records.